New Delhi, January 1

Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu began turning away devotees wearing western clothes today after a court order banning jeans and shorts as “inappropriate” for spiritual worship came into effect.

In December the Madras High Court ordered temple authorities in Tamil Nadu to refuse entry to anyone wearing jeans, bermuda shorts, skirts, short-sleeves or tight leggings to “enhance spiritual ambiance”.

Hundreds of staff members in the state’s 6,000 temples, ranging from small shrines to major religious sites, remained on alert today for people flouting the ban.